Duterte not asking for emergency powers vs COVID-19 —Sen. Sotto

President Rodrigo Duterte is not requesting for emergency powers to address the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said Sunday, even as a draft bill allowed the country's chief executive to take over of private-owned public utilities.

"It's completely wrong to say 'the President is asking for emergency powers'. Firstly, he is not. Nothing in the draft mentions that the President is asking for emergency powers," Sotto said in a message to reporters.

His remarks came after Duterte, in a letter to Sotto, said he is certifying as urgent the still-unnumbered bill seeking to declare a national emergency and a unified national policy to address it.

Under the draft, Duterte will be allowed to take over hotels and other privately-owned public utilities and businesses, should Congress grant it.

Among such entities are hotels and other similar housing establishments; public transportation systems; and telecommunication entities.

Sotto earlier on Sunday, however, said the Senate will not allow Duterte to takeover such businesses, as he said the main proposal of the bill is to distribute cash to the 16.5 million families that need help.

"Secondly, I was instrumental in telling the executive dept to call for a special session to Give the President the Authority to give and distribute cash to the needy people affected by the ECQ," added Sotto.

On March 17, the entirety of Luzon was placed under an enhanced community quarantine until April 12, 2020, restricting travel within the region in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News